BS in Physics-Astronomy (65.5–68.5 hours*)

Program Requirements    |    View MAP

1. No more than 3 hours of D credit is allowed in major courses.
2. Complete the following:
   PHSCS 121 : Principles of Physics 1. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 121 : Principles of Physics 1. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W, Sp
   PREREQUISITE:	Calculus or concurrent enrollment.
   DESCRIPTION:	Newtonian mechanics. Weekly lab.
   
   
   PHSCS 123 : Principles of Physics 2. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 123 : Principles of Physics 2. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W, Sp
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 121.
   DESCRIPTION:	Waves, thermal physics, optics, special relativity, and introduction to modern physics. Weekly lab.
   
   
   PHSCS 127 : Descriptive Astronomy. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 127 : Descriptive Astronomy. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W, Sp; Honors also.
   DESCRIPTION:	Nonmathematical presentation of knowledge of the content and history of the cosmos, frequently using observatory and planetarium.
   
   
   PHSCS 140 : Electronics Lab. (1:1:2) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 140 : Electronics Lab. (1:1:2) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, Sp
   DESCRIPTION:	Introduction to analog and digital circuits.
   
   
   PHSCS 145 : Experimental Methods in Physics. (1:0:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 145 : Experimental Methods in Physics. (1:0:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	W, Su
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 121, 140.
   DESCRIPTION:	Introduction to physical measurement and analysis, optics, sensors, actuators, and computer-based data acquisition.
   
   
   PHSCS 191 : Introduction to Physics Careers and Research. (.5:1:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 191 : Introduction to Physics Careers and Research. (.5:1:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F
   DESCRIPTION:	Survey of BYU undergraduate physics and astronomy programs, careers in physics and astronomy, and current physics and astronomy research.
   NOTE:	Take first semester after registered as physics major.
   
   
   PHSCS 220 : Principles of Physics 3. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 220 : Principles of Physics 3. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W, Sp
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 121 or equivalent; Math 113 or equivalent.
   DESCRIPTION:	Electricity and magnetism. Weekly lab.
   
   
   PHSCS 222 : Modern Physics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 222 : Modern Physics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W, Su
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 121, 123, 220.
   DESCRIPTION:	Quantum physics, atoms, molecules, condensed matter, nuclei, elementary particles, and selected topics in contemporary physics.
   
   
   PHSCS 227 : Solar System Astronomy. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 227 : Solar System Astronomy. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 121, 123; Math 113 or concurrent enrollment.
   DESCRIPTION:	Physics of light and matter, Newton's laws, solar-system dynamics, and planetary surfaces and atmospheres.
   
   
   PHSCS 228 : Stellar and Extragalactic Astronomy. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 228 : Stellar and Extragalactic Astronomy. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	W
   PREREQUISITE:	Math 113, Phscs 227.
   DESCRIPTION:	Stellar atmospheres, stellar interiors, stellar evolution, interstellar matter, galactic structure, external galaxies, and cosmology.
   
   
   PHSCS 230 : Computational Physics Lab 1. (1:0:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 230 : Computational Physics Lab 1. (1:0:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 220 or concurrent enrollment.
   DESCRIPTION:	Numerical and symbolic differentiation, integration, and differential equations, using Maple. Applications in mechanics, optics, and special relativity.
   
   
   PHSCS 318 : Introduction to Classical Field Theory. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 318 : Introduction to Classical Field Theory. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W, Sp
   PREREQUISITE:	Math 303 or 334; Phscs 230.
   DESCRIPTION:	Classical equations of physical fields; algebra of complex variables; applying Fourier analysis, Fourier transforms, and orthogonal functions.
   
   
   PHSCS 321 : Mechanics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 321 : Mechanics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, Sp
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 121, 230; Math 303 or 334 or concurrent enrollment.
   RECOMMENDED:	Concurrent enrollment in Phscs 330.
   DESCRIPTION:	Newton's laws applied to particles and systems of particles, including rigid bodies. Conservation principles and Lagrange's and Hamilton's equations.
   
   
   PHSCS 329 : Observational Astronomy. (3:2:4) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 329 : Observational Astronomy. (3:2:4) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	W
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 127 (or 227 and 228).
   DESCRIPTION:	Basic techniques of observational astronomy, emphasizing practical experience in optical data acquisition and analysis.
   
   
   PHSCS 330 : Computational Physics Lab 2. (1:0:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 330 : Computational Physics Lab 2. (1:0:3) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, Sp
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 230; 321 or concurrent enrollment; Math 303 or 334 or equivalent.
   DESCRIPTION:	Numerical solution of ordinary differential equations, linear algebra and eigenvalues, chaos theory. Applications to dynamics. Introduction to programming in Matlab.
   
   
   PHSCS 427 : Introduction to Astrophysics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 427 : Introduction to Astrophysics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 227, 228.
   DESCRIPTION:	Principles and observational techniques of astrophysics.
   
   
   PHSCS 428 : Introduction to Astrophysics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 428 : Introduction to Astrophysics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	W
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 227, 228.
   DESCRIPTION:	Principles and observational techniques of astrophysics.
   
   
   PHSCS 441 : Electrostatics and Magnetism. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 441 : Electrostatics and Magnetism. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, Sp
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 220, 318.
   DESCRIPTION:	Classical theory of static electric and magnetic fields.
   
   
   PHSCS 451 : Quantum Mechanics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 451 : Quantum Mechanics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 222, 318, or equivalent.
   DESCRIPTION:	Analytical foundations of quantum mechanics.
   
   
   
   
   Note: Phscs 191 should be taken the first semester.
3. Complete two courses from the following:
   PHSCS 360 : Statistical and Thermal Physics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 360 : Statistical and Thermal Physics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	W
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 222; Math 303 or 334.
   DESCRIPTION:	Principles of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, with applications.
   
   
   PHSCS 442 : Electrodynamics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 442 : Electrodynamics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	W, Su
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 441.
   DESCRIPTION:	Maxwell?s equations, radiation, interaction of electromagnetic fields with matter, and special relativity.
   
   
   PHSCS 452 : Applications of Quantum Mechanics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 452 : Applications of Quantum Mechanics. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	W
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 451.
   DESCRIPTION:	Applications of quantum mechanics to atomic, molecular, statistical, condensed-matter, and nuclear physics; elementary particles.
   
   
   PHSCS 471 : Principles of Optics. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   PHSCS 471 : Principles of Optics. (3:3:1) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W
   PREREQUISITE:	Phscs 123, 220; Math 303 or 334 or concurrent enrollment.
   RECOMMENDED:	Phscs 318.
   DESCRIPTION:	Electromagnetic wave phenomena, including polarization effects, interference, coherence, dispersion, ray theory, diffraction; introduction to quantum nature of light. Laboratory component emphasizes applications.
   
   
4. Complete one of the following options:
   Either
   MATH 113 : Calculus 2. (4:5:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   MATH 113 : Calculus 2. (4:5:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W, Sp, Su
   PREREQUISITE:	Math 112 or equivalent.
   DESCRIPTION:	Techniques and applications of integration; sequences, series, convergence tests, power series; parametric equations; polar coordinates.
   NOTE:	Honors also.
   
   
   MATH 302 : Mathematics for Engineering 1. (4:4:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   MATH 302 : Mathematics for Engineering 1. (4:4:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W
   PREREQUISITE:	Math 113 and passing grade on required preparatory exam taken during first week of class. (Practice exams available on class Website).
   DESCRIPTION:	Multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and numerical methods.
   
   
   Or
   MATH 113 : Calculus 2. (4:5:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   MATH 113 : Calculus 2. (4:5:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W, Sp, Su
   PREREQUISITE:	Math 112 or equivalent.
   DESCRIPTION:	Techniques and applications of integration; sequences, series, convergence tests, power series; parametric equations; polar coordinates.
   NOTE:	Honors also.
   
   
   MATH 313 : Elementary Linear Algebra. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   MATH 313 : Elementary Linear Algebra. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W, Sp, Su; Honors also.
   PREREQUISITE:	Math 112 or 119.
   DESCRIPTION:	Linear systems, matrices, vectors and vector spaces, linear transformations, determinants, inner product spaces, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors.
   
   
   MATH 314 : Calculus of Several Variables. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   MATH 314 : Calculus of Several Variables. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W, Sp, Su
   PREREQUISITE:	Math 113; 313 or concurrent enrollment.
   DESCRIPTION:	Partial differentiation, the Jacobian matrix, and integral theorems of vector calculus.
   
   
5. Complete one course from the following:
   MATH 303 : Mathematics for Engineering 2. (4:4:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   MATH 303 : Mathematics for Engineering 2. (4:4:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W
   PREREQUISITE:	Math 302 or 314.
   DESCRIPTION:	ODEs, Laplace transforms, Fourier series, PDEs.
   
   
   MATH 334 : Ordinary Differential Equations. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   MATH 334 : Ordinary Differential Equations. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
   
   OFFERED:	F, W, Sp, Su
   PREREQUISITE:	Math 113, 313.
   DESCRIPTION:	Methods and theory of ordinary differential equations.
   
   
6. Complete a senior thesis, including the following:
   1. Meet with department undergraduate research coordinator early in the junior year or before to obtain information about research projects and senior thesis procedures.
   2. Complete two hours of the following
      PHSCS 498R : Senior Thesis. (.5-3:0:ARR) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      
      PHSCS 498R : Senior Thesis. (.5-3:0:ARR) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      
      OFFERED:	F, W, Sp, Su
      DESCRIPTION:	Conducting and reporting research under a department faculty mentor or other professionals.
      NOTE:	Thesis topic must be cleared by faculty member before registration.
      
      

7. Take a department exit examination in the senior year.

Recommended Course

CHEM 105 : General College Chemistry. (4:5:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)

CHEM 105 : General College Chemistry. (4:5:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)

OFFERED:	F, W, Sp, Su
PREREQUISITE:	Math 110 (or equivalent) or concurrent enrollment.
DESCRIPTION:	Atomic and molecular structure including bonding and periodic properties of the elements; reaction energetics, electrochemistry, acids and bases, inorganic and organic chemistry.
NOTE:	Primarily for students in engineering and biological sciences. Three lectures and two recitation sections per week.


C S 142 : Introduction to Computer Programming. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)

C S 142 : Introduction to Computer Programming. (3:3:0) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)

OFFERED:	F, W, Sp, Su
PREREQUISITE:	Knowledge of algebra.
DESCRIPTION:	Introduction to object-oriented program design and development. Principles of algorithm formulation and implementation.


EC EN 124 : (EC En-C S) Introduction to Computing Systems. (3:3:2) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)

EC EN 124 : (EC En-C S) Introduction to Computing Systems. (3:3:2) (Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)

OFFERED:	F, W, Sp
PREREQUISITE:	C S 142 or concurrent enrollment.
DESCRIPTION:	How a computer works, from hardware to high-level programming: logic circuits, computer instructions, assembly language, binary arithmetic, C programming, program translation, data structures, algorithm analysis.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.

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